Forced air cooling from piston movements of nailer tool

ABSTRACT

A fastener driving tool that forces air from its variable venting volume beneath the piston of the working cylinder and directs that forced air through passageways and toward an electronic controller and/or an electric motor before being vented to atmosphere, thereby drawing heat away from those components during an operational cycle of the movable piston. When the piston returns to its initial position, environmental air is drawn through the same passageways, again past the electronic controller and/or electric motor, thereby twice cooling these “hot” components during a single operational cycle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 62/723,859, titled “FORCED AIR COOLING FROM PISTONMOVEMENTS OF NAILER TOOL,” filed on Aug. 28, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology disclosed herein relates generally to fastener drivingtools and is particularly directed to such tools of the type which usepressurized air to drive a piston that, in turn, causes a driver bladeto force a fastener into a target workpiece. Embodiments arespecifically disclosed which use the air “under” the movable piston, ina variable venting volume of the working cylinder, to force that airthrough passageways within the tool until reaching an electroniccontroller, so as to take heat away from that electronic controller, andto further force that air through vents or “outlets” to expel that airfrom the interior spaces of the tool, during a driving stroke of thepiston.

Later, during a return stroke of the piston, environmental air is suckedin through those same vents, which now act as “inlets,” and is drawnthrough the same passageways within the tool, which again forces airpast the electronic controller, and thereby again takes heat away fromthat electronic controller. Therefore, air is forced past the electroniccontroller twice, during a single operational cycle of the movablepiston of the working cylinder.

In a second embodiment fastener driving tool, the air from the variableventing volume of the working cylinder is further forced through apassageway into a motor housing and directed around and past theelectric motor contained therewithin, and then further directed to a setof vents in the motor housing. Thus, in this second embodiment, thecooling air is forced past both the electronic controller and theelectric motor to cool both of those heat-producing components, therebydrawing heat away from those components twice during a singleoperational cycle of the movable piston.

In a third embodiment fastener driving tool, the air from the variableventing volume of the working cylinder is forced through the motorhousing where it is directed around and past the electric motorcontained therewithin, and then further directed to a set of vents inthe motor housing. The reciprocating movements of the piston in theworking cylinder cause cooling air to be drawn past the motor twiceduring each operational cycle of the piston.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional fastener driving tools use a piston to move a driverblade that forces a nail or staple into a target workpiece, as part oftheir operational cycle. These pistons are typically driven bycompressed air, or in some cases, by combustion air. In a product lineof pressurized air tools known as FUSION® that are sold by Senco,pressurized air is stored in a main storage chamber and that air is notvented to atmosphere, but instead is re-used multiple times, and candrive multiple driving strokes (including operational cycle counts inthe thousands, per charge of pressurized air).

In the conventional tools, the air is that is “beneath” the movablepiston in the working cylinder is exhausted to atmosphere. This airwould otherwise be trapped under the piston, which would create aback-pressure that is undesirable for the workings of the tool. In theseconventional tools, the air beneath the piston (in which that volume canbe referred to as a “variable venting volume”) is forced down toward apiston stop. That air is further directed through an opening in thepiston stop and then through the base of the working cylinder, andfinally through openings in the enclosure so that it is vented toatmosphere. Then, when the piston is “lifted” from its driven positionback toward its ready position, environmental air is sucked back inthrough the same vents, through the same opening in the piston stop, andback into the variable venting volume beneath the piston. Thisreciprocating air is essentially wasted with regard to any other usefulproperties.

The FUSION® fastener driving tools that use the same pressurized airmultiple times typically have an electronic controller and an electricmotor that control the overall workings of the tool, and in the case ofthe motor, provides the motive force (as a prime mover) to lift themovable piston back toward its ready position after it has driven afastener. These electrical and electronic components produce a good dealof heat, and for the most part, that heat is not “helped” to escape fromthe enclosure by any forced air movements. Such heat is essentiallytrapped inside the enclosure except for natural convection that allowssome of the heat to escape through small vents in the housing thatsubstantially encases the tool.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an advantage to provide a way of forcing cooling airpast the electronic controller and electric motor of a fastener drivingtool so as to draw thermal energy away from those heat-producingcomponents.

It is another advantage to provide a useful way of employing the airvolume beneath the movable piston of a fastener driving tool, in whichthat air (in the “variable venting volume” of the working cylinder) isforced through passageways within the housing of the tool, and thendirected toward the electronic controller so as to take heat away fromthe electronic controller, and then the air is directed out throughvents to the atmosphere. This occurs during a driving stroke of themovable piston of the working cylinder, and then, during a returnstroke, environmental air is sucked in through the same vents and forcedpast that same electronic controller where the moving air can again drawheat away from the electronic controller, and then move through the samepassageways back into the variable venting volume beneath the piston ofthe working cylinder. In this manner, cooling air is twice forced pastthe electronic controller during a single operational cycle of themovable piston.

It is yet another advantage to provide a fastener driving tool in whichthe air in the variable venting volume beneath the piston of the workingcylinder is directed through passageways within the housing of the tool,then past an electronic controller, and further past an electric motorbefore reaching vents where the air can escape to the atmosphere, and bydoing so removes heat from the electronic controller and electric motorduring a driving stroke of the movable piston. During a return stroke ofthat movable piston, environmental air is sucked through those samevents past the electric motor and past the electronic controller,through the same passageways back into the variable venting volumebeneath the piston of the working cylinder. In this manner, cooling airis twice forced past both of those heat-producing components during asingle operational cycle of the movable piston.

It is a yet further advantage to provide a fastener driving tool inwhich the air in the variable venting volume beneath the piston of theworking cylinder is directed through passageways within the housing ofthe tool, then past an electric motor so as to take heat away from theelectric motor, and then the air is directed out through vents to theatmosphere. This occurs during a driving stroke of the movable piston ofthe working cylinder, and then, during a return stroke, environmentalair is sucked in through the same vents and forced past that sameelectric motor where the moving air can again draw heat away from theelectric motor, and then move through the same passageways back into thevariable venting volume beneath the piston of the working cylinder. Inthis manner, cooling air is twice forced past the electric motor duringa single operational cycle of the movable piston.

Additional advantages and other novel features will be set forth in partin the description that follows and in part will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may belearned with the practice of the technology disclosed herein.

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, and in accordance withone aspect, a fastener driving tool is provided, which comprises: acylinder that includes a movable piston, the cylinder including avariable displacement volume on a first side of the piston, and thecylinder including a variable venting volume on a second, opposite sideof the piston; a driver that is in mechanical communication with thepiston; a guide body that guides the driver, and that receives afastener to be driven by the driver to an exit portion of the guidebody; a lifter that is configured to move the driver from a drivenposition to a ready position; an electronic controller that includes atleast one physical electronic hardware circuit; a housing that covers atleast a portion of the cylinder and the guide body, and that covers atleast a portion of the at least one physical electronic hardware circuitof the electronic controller; and an air passageway that extends atleast between the variable venting volume and the at least one physicalelectronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller, and furtherextends to at least one vent in the housing to thereby provide apneumatic communication with an outer environment.

In accordance with another aspect, a fastener driving tool, whichcomprises: a cylinder that includes a movable piston, the cylinderincluding a variable displacement volume on a first side of the piston,and the cylinder including a variable venting volume on a second,opposite side of the piston; a driver that is in mechanicalcommunication with the piston; a guide body that guides the driver, andthat receives a fastener to be driven by the driver to an exit portionof the guide body; a lifter that is configured to move the driver from adriven position to a ready position; a housing that covers at least aportion of the cylinder and the guide body; a motor housing that extendsfrom a portion of the housing, and includes an electric motor that isconfigured to move the lifter; and an air passageway that extends atleast between the variable venting volume and the electric motor, andfurther extends to at least one vent in the housing to thereby provide apneumatic communication with an outer environment.

In accordance with yet another aspect, a fastener driving tool isprovided, which comprises: a main storage chamber that contains apressurized gas; a cylinder that includes a movable piston, the cylinderincluding a variable displacement volume on a first side of the pistonthat is in pneumatic communication with the main storage chamber, andthe cylinder including a variable venting volume on a second, oppositeside of the piston that is in pneumatic communication with an outerenvironment; a piston stop that is positioned on the second side of themovable piston, the piston stop exhibiting a through opening; a driverthat is in mechanical communication with the piston; a guide body thatguides the driver, and that receives a fastener to be driven by thedriver to an exit portion of the guide body; a lifter that is configuredto move the driver to move from a driven position to a ready position;an electronic controller that includes a processing circuit, a memorycircuit, and an input/output interface circuit, the controller includingat least one physical electronic hardware circuit; a main housing thatcovers at least a portion of the main storage chamber, the cylinder, andthe guide body; a handle portion that extends from a first portion ofthe main housing, the handle portion including an enclosure that coversat least a portion of the at least one physical electronic hardwarecircuit of the electronic controller; at least one vent in the enclosureof the handle portion that is proximal to the at least one physicalelectronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller; a first airpassageway that extends from the through opening of the piston stop tothe enclosure of the handle portion; and a second air passageway thatextends through the enclosure of the handle portion, between the firstair passageway and the at least one vent in the handle portion.

In accordance with still another aspect, a fastener driving tool isprovided, which comprises: a main storage chamber that contains apressurized gas; a cylinder that includes a movable piston, the cylinderincluding a variable displacement volume on a first side of the pistonthat is in pneumatic communication with the main storage chamber, andthe cylinder including a variable venting volume on a second, oppositeside of the piston that is in pneumatic communication with an outerenvironment; a piston stop that is positioned on the second side of themovable piston, the piston stop exhibiting a through opening; a driverthat is in mechanical communication with the piston; a guide body thatguides the driver, and that receives a fastener to be driven by thedriver to an exit portion of the guide body; a lifter that is configuredto move the driver to move from a driven position to a ready position;an electronic controller that includes a processing circuit, a memorycircuit, and an input/output interface circuit, the controller includingat least one physical electronic hardware circuit; a main housing thatcovers at least a portion of the main storage chamber, the cylinder, andthe guide body; a handle portion that extends from a first portion ofthe main housing, the handle portion including an enclosure that coversat least a portion of the at least one physical electronic hardwarecircuit of the electronic controller; an electronic motor that isconfigured to move the lifter; a motor housing that extends from asecond portion of the main housing, and includes the electric motor; atleast one vent in the motor housing; a first air passageway that extendsfrom the through opening of the piston stop to the enclosure of thehandle portion; and a second air passageway that extends through theenclosure of the handle portion, between the first air passageway andthe bottom of the motor housing.

Still other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in this artfrom the following description and drawings wherein there is describedand shown a preferred embodiment in one of the best modes contemplatedfor carrying out the technology. As will be realized, the technologydisclosed herein is capable of other different embodiments, and itsseveral details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspectsall without departing from its principles. Accordingly, the drawings anddescriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the technology disclosedherein, and together with the description and claims serve to explainthe principles of the technology. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view showing the interior portions of a firstembodiment fastener driving tool, constructed according to theprinciples of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is the same cutaway view as FIG. 1, but showing details of airflow patterns within the fastener driving tool of FIG. 1, as itoperates.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the side and above, in partialcut-away, of the fastener driving tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fastener driving tool of FIG.1, showing portions of the tool near the battery pack.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view showing the interior portions of a secondembodiment fastener driving tool, constructed according to theprinciples of the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 is the same cutaway view as FIG. 5, but showing details of airflow patterns within the fastener driving tool of FIG. 5, as itoperates.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below and to the side, in partialcut-away, of the fastener driving tool of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view showing the interior portions of a thirdembodiment fastener driving tool, constructed according to theprinciples of the technology disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiment, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numerals indicate the same elements throughoutthe views.

It is to be understood that the technology disclosed herein is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and thearrangement of components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The technology disclosed herein is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should notbe regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or“having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the itemslisted thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and“mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompassdirect and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition,the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are notrestricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.Furthermore, the terms “communicating with” and “in communications with”refer to two different physical or virtual elements that somehow passsignals or information between each other, whether that transfer ofsignals or information is direct or whether there are additionalphysical or virtual elements therebetween that are also involved in thatpassing of signals or information. Moreover, the term “in communicationwith” can also refer to a mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic system inwhich one end (a “first end”) of the “communication” may be the “cause”of a certain impetus to occur (such as a mechanical movement, or ahydraulic or pneumatic change of state) and the other end (a “secondend”) of the “communication” may receive the “effect” of thatmovement/change of state, whether there are intermediate componentsbetween the “first end” and the “second end,” or not.

The terms “first” and “second” preceding an element name, e.g., firstinlet, second inlet, etc., are used for identification purposes todistinguish between similar or related elements, results or concepts,and are not intended to necessarily imply order, nor are the terms“first” and “second” intended to preclude the inclusion of additionalsimilar or related elements, results or concepts, unless otherwiseindicated.

In addition, it should be understood that embodiments disclosed hereininclude both hardware and electronic components or modules that, forpurposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if themajority of the components were implemented solely in hardware.

However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading ofthis detailed description, would recognize that, in at least oneembodiment, the electronic based aspects of the technology disclosedherein may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted thata plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as aplurality of different structural components may be utilized toimplement the technology disclosed herein. Furthermore, if software isutilized, then the processing circuit that executes such software can beof a general purpose computer, while fulfilling all the functions thatotherwise might be executed by a special purpose computer that could bedesigned for specifically implementing this technology.

It will be understood that the term “circuit” as used herein canrepresent an actual electronic circuit, such as an integrated circuitchip (or a portion thereof), or it can represent a function that isperformed by a processing circuit, such as a microprocessor or an ASICthat includes a logic state machine or another form of processingelement (including a sequential processing circuit). A specific type ofcircuit could be an analog circuit or a digital circuit of some type,although such a circuit possibly could be implemented in software by alogic state machine or a sequential processor. In other words, if aprocessing circuit is used to perform a desired function used in thetechnology disclosed herein (such as a demodulation function), thenthere might not be a specific “circuit” that could be called a“demodulation circuit;” however, there would be a demodulation“function” that is performed by the software. All of these possibilitiesare contemplated by the inventors, and are within the principles of thetechnology when discussing a “circuit.”

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a fastener driving toolis generally designated by the reference numeral 10. This tool 10 ismainly designed to linearly drive fasteners such as nails and staples.Tool 10 includes a handle portion 12, a fastener driver portion 14, afastener magazine portion 16, and a fastener exit portion 18.

A “left” outer housing portion of the driver portion is indicated at 20.A “top” outer housing portion is indicated at 22, while a “front” outerhousing portion of the driver portion is indicated at 24. A “rear” outerhousing portion for the handle portion is indicated at 26, while a“rear” cover of the magazine portion is indicated at 28. It will beunderstood that the various directional nomenclature provided above iswith respect to the illustration of FIG. 1, and the first embodimentfastener driving tool 10 can be used in many other angular positions,without departing from the principles of this technology.

The area of the tool 10 in which a fastener is released is indicatedapproximately by the reference numeral 30, which is the “bottom” of thefastener exit portion of tool 10. Before the tool is actuated, a safetycontact element 32 extends to or beyond the bottom 30 of the fastenerexit, and this extension of the safety contact element is the bottommostor “front” portion of the entire tool 10.

Other elements that are depicted in FIG. 1 include a guide body 36 and adepth of drive adjuster 38, which are in mechanical communication withthe magazine portion 16.

The fastener driving tool 10 also includes a motor 40 (see FIG. 5) whichacts as a prime mover for the tool, and which has an output that drivesa gearbox 42 (see FIG. 5). An output shaft of the gearbox drives a geartrain leading to a lifter drive shaft 102, and when the lifter driveshaft 102 rotates, a rotary-to-linear lifter 100 is actuated. A batterypack 48 is attached near the rear of the handle portion 12, and thisbattery provides electrical power for the motor 40 as well as for acontrol system. The motor 40 has a fan 46 that helps to cool the motor,when actuated.

A printed circuit board that contains a controller is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 50, and is placed within the handleportion 12 in this embodiment. A trigger switch 52 is activated by atrigger actuator 54. The handle portion 12 is designed for gripping by ahuman hand, and the trigger actuator 54 is designed for linear actuationby a person's finger while gripping the handle portion 12. Triggerswitch 52 provides an input to the control system 50. There are alsoother input devices used with the system controller, however those inputdevices are not seen in FIG. 1.

Since FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of the tool 10, the printed circuit boardshows the system controller 50 as it sits inside the handle portion 12of the tool. The battery pack 48 is attached to the very back portion ofthe handle, just behind the printed circuit board 50. The tool's systemcontroller will typically include a microprocessor or a microcomputerintegrated circuit that acts as a processing circuit. At least onememory circuit will also typically be part of the controller, includingRandom Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices. To storeuser-inputted information (if applicable for a particular tool model), anon-volatile memory device would typically be included, such as EEPROM,NVRAM, or a Flash memory device.

The processing circuit communicates with external inputs and outputs,which it does by use of an input/output (I/O) interface circuit. Theprocessing circuit, memory circuit, and the interface (I/O) circuitcommunicate with one another via a system bus, which carries addresslines, data lines, and various other signal lines, including interrupts.The I/O circuit has the appropriate electronics to communicate withvarious external devices, including input-type devices, such as sensorsand user-controlled switches, as well as output-type devices, such as amotor and indicator lamps. The signals between the I/O interface circuitand the actual input and output devices are carried by signal pathways,typically a number of electrical conductors.

Some of the output devices may include a lifter motor 40, a brakecircuit (not shown), and a light emitting diode (not shown), which couldpotentially be replaced with an audio output device, such as a Sonalert.Each of the output devices will typically have a driver circuit, such asa motor driver circuit (not shown) for the lifter motor 40, and aninterface driver (not shown) for the brake circuit. The position of alatch 60 is controlled by an electromechanical device, such as asolenoid or a motor, as desired by the system designer, and is actuatedthrough a latch shaft 68.

The pivotable latch 60 presses against the driver member 90 undercertain conditions. Latch 60 has an engagement extension that pressesdirectly against one of the surfaces of the driver member 90 and, due toits physical configuration, the latch will allow the driver member to beraised upward (as seen in these views), but will not allow the drivermember to be moved downward. As such, the latch 60 can act as a safetydevice in a first mode; and in a second mode, it also acts as a “releasedevice” that allows the driver member to drive a fastener.

The LED would typically have an LED driver circuit (not shown), whichcould be a dual-direction driver circuit if the LED was a bi-directionaldevice. Such a device might be desirable, and red and green LEDs arecommon devices, in which current in a first direction will produce a redindicator lamp signal, while reversing the current would produce a greenindicator lamp signal.

The input devices for tool 10 can include various sensors, including atrigger switch 52 and a safety contact element switch (not shown). Ifsuch switches (including 52) are standard electromechanical devices(such as limit switches), then typically no driver circuit is necessary.However, if the trigger switch and safety element switch were to bereplaced by solid state sensing elements, then some type of interfacecircuit could be needed.

The tool 10 may also include position sensors that can detect certainphysical positions of a mechanical driver 90. These sensors may bereferred to as an “UP sensor” (not shown), and a “DOWN sensor” (notshown). If provided, it is desired that these two sensors are“non-contact” devices, such as optical sensors; each one could have alight-emitting lamp (such as a LED) and a light-sensitive detectingelement (such as a photodiode). Alternatively, these sensors could bemagnetic sensing devices, such as Hall effect sensors, with a smallpermanent magnet affixed to the driver.

If provided, the UP and DOWN position sensors could to be located insmall cylindrical areas near a driver track 93. The driver 90 of theillustrated embodiment includes several protruding teeth 92, which areused to contact “pins” 104 of the lifter 100. When the lifter rotates,physical contact between the driver teeth 92 and the lifter pins 104causes the driver 90 to be “lifted” back toward its “ready” position, sothat the next driving cycle can commence when the human user pulls thetrigger 54 and also presses the bottom of the tool (at the safetycontact element 32) against a target workpiece.

It should be noted that some of the sensors described herein areoptional. The tool 10 can operated quite well without many of thesesensors, including the UP and DOWN position sensors, which provide foran improved tool in many respects, but are not entirely necessary if onewishes to sell a lesser expensive tool, for example.

A working cylinder subassembly is designated by the reference numeral71, and this is included as part of the fastener driver portion 14. OnFIG. 2, the working cylinder 71 includes a cylinder wall 70, and withinthis cylinder wall 70 is a piston 80, and a stationary piston stop 84.Part of the piston mechanism of this embodiment includes a piston seal86 and a piston guide ring 88. Surrounding, in the illustratedembodiment, the cylinder wall 70 is a main storage chamber 74 (alsosometimes referred to herein as a “pressure vessel storage space”) andan outer pressure vessel wall 78. At the top (to the left, as seen onFIG. 1) of the fastener driver portion 14 is a top cap 72 for thecylinder mechanism.

Also within the fastener driver portion 14 are mechanisms that willactually drive a fastener into a solid object. This includes the driver90, a cylinder “venting chamber” 75 (which would typically always be atatmospheric pressure), the driver track 93, the rotary-to-linear lifter100, and the latch 60. The driver 90 is also sometimes referred toherein as a “driver member” and the rotary-to-linear lifter 100 is alsosometimes referred to herein as a “lifter member,” or simply as a“lifter.”

Driver 90 is rather elongated; the main body of its elongated face issubstantially rectangular. There are multiple protrusions or “teeth” 92that are positioned along the longitudinal edges of the driver. In theillustrated embodiment, these teeth 92 protrude in a transversedirection from the longitudinal centerline of driver 90, and they arespaced-apart from one another along the outer longitudinal edges of thedriver 90. It will be understood that the precise positions for theteeth 92 could be different from those illustrated for the driver 90without departing from the principles of the technology disclosedherein.

The latch 60 is designed to “catch” the driver 90 at times when thedriver should not be allowed to move through an entire “driving stroke.”The latch has a catching surface that can intercept a tooth 92 of thedriver 90, when the latch is moved to its engaged, or “interfering”position. When a driving stroke is to occur, the latch is pivoted sothat its catching surface is moved to its “disengaged” position, whichis out of the way of the driver, and thus its catching surface will notinterfere with any of the driver's teeth 92. An exemplary embodiment ofsuch a latch is fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,011,441, owned bySenco Brands, Inc., which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

There is a cylinder base 96 that mainly separates the gas pressureportions of the fastener driver portion 14 from the lower mechanicalportions of that driver portion 14. The portion of the variable volumethat is below the piston 80 is also referred to as a cylinder ventingchamber 75, which is vented to atmosphere via a vent 250 near thecylinder base 96. The lower mechanical portions of driver portion 14include a rotary-to-linear lifter 100 which was briefly mentioned above,along with a lifter drive shaft 102. Drive shaft 102 protrudes throughthe center portions of the fastener driver portion 14 and through thecenter of the lifter 100, and this shaft is used to rotate the lifter,as desired by the control system.

In FIG. 1, the piston 80 is near or at its uppermost or top-mostposition, and a small gas pressure chamber 76 can be seen above thetop-most area of the piston, above the piston seal 86. It will beunderstood that the gas pressure chamber 76 and the main storage chamber(or storage space) 74 are in fluidic communication with one another. Itwill also be understood that the portion to the interior of the cylinderwall 70 forms a displacement volume that is created by the stroke of thepiston 80. In other words, the gas pressure chamber 76 is not a fixedvolume, but this chamber will vary in volume as the piston 80 moves upand down (as seen in FIG. 2). This type of mechanical arrangement isoften referred to as a “displacement volume,” and that terminology willmainly be used herein for this non-fixed volume 76.

It will be further understood that the main storage chamber 74preferably comprises a fixed volume, which typically would make it lessexpensive to manufacture; however, it is not an absolute requirementthat the main storage chamber actually be of a fixed volume. It would bepossible to allow a portion of this chamber 74 to deform in size and/orshape so that the size of its volume would actually change, duringoperation of the tool, without departing from the principles of thetechnology disclosed herein.

In the illustrated embodiment for the first embodiment fastener drivingtool 10, the main storage chamber 74 substantially surrounds the workingcylinder 71. Moreover, the main storage chamber 74 is annular in shape,and it is basically co-axial with the cylinder 71. This is a preferredconfiguration of the illustrated first embodiment, but it will beunderstood that alternative physical arrangements could be designedwithout departing from the principles of the technology disclosedherein.

There are certain “air passageways” in the first embodiment tool 10,which are illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. These air passageways are designedto channel cooling air throughout portions of the fastener driving toolso as to help cool certain rather hot components, including theelectronic circuit board of the electronic controller 50. In the firstembodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, some of the air passageways are asfollows: an annular ring near the base of the piston stop is apassageway 210, a linear channel between the piston stop and the handleis a passageway 212, a somewhat linear channel in the handle that leadsdown toward the printed circuit board 50 is a passageway 214, spacesaround the printed circuit board 50 and toward vents 260 comprise arather large passageway 216. An opening or channel along the driver thatruns through the middle of the piston stop is a passageway 218.

A rather large passageway 220 comprises the working cylinder's variablevolume that is beneath the movable piston. This variable volume that isbelow the piston can also be referred to as a “variable venting volume”and essentially is always in communication with the outside environmentwhere the fastener driving tool is operating. This is by design, ofcourse, because the tool designer always desires to easily vent the airthat is beneath the movable piston 80 at times when the piston is beingused to drive a fastener into a workpiece, and therefore, that airvolume needs to be allowed to vent to the atmosphere during that“driving stroke” portion of the operating cycle of the tool. Thereafter,when the movable piston is being “lifted” back up from its drivenposition toward its ready position, then environmental air needs to beallowed to flow back into that same variable venting volume 220 that isbelow the piston, so as to not create any type of vacuum that mightotherwise create a back-pressure beneath the piston that may tend toinhibit that lifting motion.

In the first embodiment tool that is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, there areseveral air vents that are illustrated in FIG. 4. A motor housing 44 isillustrated in FIG. 4, which was not seen in FIG. 1-3 for purposes ofclarity. Along the “front” vertical side of the motor housing 44 arethree air vents, designated by the reference numerals 262, 264, and 266.Cooling air produced by the motor fan 46 runs around the motor and outthese three vents, thereby producing air flow paths at 256.

At the bottom of the handle 12, the enclosure (or housing) 26 widens incross-sectional area to allow for the printed circuit board thatcontains the hardware circuitry of the electronic controller 50. Thiscontrol circuit 50 not only contains intelligent electronics, such asthat found in a microprocessor or a microcontroller, but also containsswitching semiconductors that control the current and voltage beingsupplied to the motor 40, and therefore can run quite hot. There areseveral air vents 260 that are located along the side surfaces of thisenclosure 26 that surrounds the electronic controller 50. There are airflow paths 244 that include cooling air that runs past the electroniccontroller 50 and run through these vents 260. It should be noted thatthese vents 260 and this cooling air 244 is quite separate from thecooling air that is supplied for the battery pack 48, which has anindependent cooling system in and of itself.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a description of the air flow paths that runthroughout the tool 10 will now be provided. It will be understood thatmovements of the piston 80 are at the heart of the operation of thisfastener driving tool 10. When it is time to drive a fastener, certainactions by the human user will create an electrical signal that releasesthe piston 80 from being held in place by the lifter 100, and therefore,the piston will then move quickly from left to right in this view ofFIG. 2. In previous embodiments of the FUSION® fastener driving toolsold by Senco, the volume of air “beneath” the piston that was withinthe working cylinder (also referred to herein as the “variable ventingvolume” of the working cylinder), would be moved through openings in thepiston stop and then out vents in the housing or enclosure of theFUSION® tool, and then to the atmosphere. When the piston 80 was then“lifted” back toward its ready position, then air from the environmentwould then enter the same vents and through the piston stop and backinto the working cylinder portion that is beneath the piston as thatpiston 80 was lifted from right to left in this view of FIG. 2.

Instead of merely venting that rather large volume of air, using thetechnology disclosed herein, that air will be used to cool theelectronics of the first embodiment tool 10 that is illustrated in FIGS.1-4. In FIG. 2, the air flow paths at 242 are initially pushed down (tothe right in this view) and through an opening in the piston stop, whichthen becomes an air flow path 240. The moving air continues through anair flow path 230 that runs around an annular ring 210 that surroundsthe exterior circumference of the piston stop. The air flow thencontinues to an air flow path 232 that runs through the linear channel212, and then becomes an air flow path 234 that runs through thesomewhat linear channel that is the interior volume of the handle 12.

The air flow then continues farther down until it impacts against andgoes around the printed circuit board 50, and this is an air flow path238. When this occurs, the air flow path 238 carries heat away from theprinted circuit board 50, which is a very desirable effect. The air thencontinues movement and flows beneath the printed circuit board andthrough vents 260; these are air flow paths 244, as seen on FIG. 4. Atthis point, the air that has been evacuated by the driving strokemovements of the piston 80 have been directed through all these airpassageways 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220, and finally through thevents 244. When the piston 80 is later lifted toward its ready position,environmental air will then be sucked in through the vents 244 andthrough all the same air passageways just listed above, until making itsway into the variable venting volume 220 beneath the piston, via thefinal air flow paths 242.

In this first embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, there are two separate sets ofair passageways and air flow paths for cooling the fastener driving tool10. The main cooling air is driven by the movements of the piston 80,and cools the electronics of the printed circuit board for theelectronic controller 50, as just described above. There is also themotor fan 46 which creates a secondary air flow, using a separate set ofvents and air flow paths that cool the motor 40; this is containedwithin the motor housing 44, and illustrated on FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a fastener driving toolis generally designated by the reference numeral 200. As with the firstembodiment 10, this second embodiment tool 200 is mainly designed tolinearly drive fasteners such as nails and staples.

Tool 200 includes the same basic main components as that of the firstembodiment tool 10, including a handle portion 12, a fastener driverportion 14, a fastener magazine portion 16, and a fastener exit portion18. In fact, tool 200 essentially includes all of the same componentsthat have been described above, in connection with the first embodimenttool 10.

With respect to the drawings, FIGS. 5-7 show the motor housing portionof the tool 200, which is generally designated by the reference numeral202. Therefore, the motor can be seen in these views, which is depictedat the reference numeral 40, and the gearbox is depicted at thereference numeral 42. These major components—the entire motor housing202, along with its motor 40 and gearbox 42—are typically also includedin the first embodiment tool 10, however, they were removed from certaindrawings that illustrated that first embodiment tool (i.e., in FIGS.1-3), for purposes of clarity. On the other hand, both FIGS. 1-3 of thefirst embodiment 10 and FIGS. 5-7 of the second embodiment 200illustrate virtually all of the other components that have beendescribed above, and thus, the above description of those componentswill equally apply to FIGS. 5-7, without having been repeatedhereinbelow.

The major components of the first embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1-4 are quitesimilar to the second embodiment 200 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.However, this second embodiment 200 includes a hollow connector 204 thatruns between the lower handle 12 and the lower portion of the motorhousing 202. In this instance, the connector 204 not only providesmechanical strength between the lower handle and the lower motorhousing, but also provides an open volume that acts as an air passagewayat 222. Another new air passageway for this second embodiment isdepicted at 224, which represents spaces around the motor 40, so thatair can flow around the major surfaces of the motor and then ultimatelybe vented out the several vents in the motor housing itself, which aredepicted at the reference numerals 262, 264, and 266.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the air flow paths that are used by the secondembodiment 200 will now be discussed in detail. As discussed above, itis the movements of the piston 80 that create an air flow beneath thatpiston (i.e., to the left in this view of FIG. 6) such that air in thevariable venting volume that is beneath the piston 80 will be caused tobe expelled from the interior portions of the tool 200 during a drivingstroke, as the piston moves from its ready position toward its drivenposition against the piston stop 84. The first air flow path to beaffected is illustrated at 242, which shows the air beneath the piston80 being driven toward the piston stop. The next air flow path runsthrough the middle of the piston stop, and is indicated at the referencenumeral 240. The air continues to flow to the next air flow path 230which runs through the annular ring 210 that is near the base of thepiston stop. The moving air continues through an air flow path 232 thatruns from this annular ring to the linear channel 212, and then the airflow continues to an air flow path 236 that runs through the handle 12.The next air flow path is at 238, in which the moving air runs againstand around the printed circuit board 50, and this event carries heataway from the printed circuit board having the electronic controller 50.

In the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the next air flow pathwas at 244 which vented the air from beneath the printed circuit boardand through the vents 260. However, in this second embodiment 200, thereare no air vents 260, and therefore, the moving air is directed throughthe next air flow path 250 that runs beneath the printed circuit board,carrying additional heat away from the printed circuit board. Then themoving air is directed toward an air flow path 252 that runs through theconnector 204 (through the open volume or air passageway 222). Themoving air continues now to a series of air flow paths 254 that runaround the motor 40 within the motor housing 202, and these air flowpaths continue out through the vents 262, 264, and 266 that are in thevertical (in FIG. 5) side wall of the motor housing 202.

In the design of the second embodiment 200, the major air flow that iscreated by the driving stroke of the piston 80 causes air to be forcedagainst and past the printed circuit board with the electronic circuitcontroller 50, thereby carrying heat away from that electronic device.That air flow continues around the motor 40, thereby carrying heat awayfrom that rather hot device as well, finally exiting at the vents in thevertical side of the motor housing 202. (It will be understood that theterm “vertical” side of the motor housing is with respect to theorientation viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6.) When the piston is lifted from itsdriven position back to its ready position, the environmental air willthen be sucked back in through those same vents 262, 264, and 266, andwill run through the same air flow paths in reverse order as justdescribed above, to fill the variable venting volume 220 that is withinthe working cylinder 71 and below the piston 80, as that piston movesfrom left to right in the view of FIG. 6. It can be seen that themovements of the piston, which must take place under all circumstancesfor this fastener driving tool to produce any work at all, will now beused to provide a secondary benefit of cooling the hot electronics andthe hot motor, and this cooling effect is essentially “free” becausethis air has to be channeled somewhere throughout the tool housing, andthen vented to the atmosphere. As described above, that movable volumeof air not only is exited from beneath the piston during a drivingstroke, it is directed past the printed circuit board and the motor tocool those important devices and then, when the piston is lifted back“up” during a lifting stroke to its ready position, the air from theenvironment is then directed against and around the motor and theelectronic circuit board once again, thereby producing a doubled coolingeffect to create additional heat transfer away from those hotcomponents.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a third embodiment of a fastener driving toolis generally designated by the reference numeral 300. As with the firstembodiment 10, this third second embodiment tool 300 is mainly designedto linearly drive fasteners such as nails and staples.

Tool 300 includes the same basic main components as that of the firstembodiment tool 10, including a handle portion 12, a fastener driverportion 14, a fastener magazine portion 16 (not shown on FIG. 8), and afastener exit area 30. In fact, tool 300 essentially includes all of thesame components that have been described above, in connection with thefirst embodiment tool 10.

With respect to the drawings, FIG. 8 shows the motor housing portion ofthe tool 300, which is generally designated by the reference numeral302. Therefore, the motor can be seen in these views, which is depictedat the reference numeral 40, and the gearbox is depicted but notnumbered. Note that FIGS. 1-3 of the first embodiment 10 and FIG. 8 ofthe third embodiment 300 illustrate virtually all of the othercomponents that have been described above, and thus, the abovedescription of those components will equally apply to FIG. 8, withouthaving been repeated hereinbelow.

As in the second embodiment 200 that is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, thisthird embodiment 300 includes a hollow connector 304 that runs betweenthe lower handle 12 and the lower portion of the motor housing 302. Inthis instance, the connector 304 not only provides mechanical strengthbetween the lower handle and the lower motor housing, but also providesan open volume that acts as an air passageway at 330. Another airpassageway for this third embodiment is depicted at 328, whichrepresents spaces within the upper portions of the motor housing.

A new air passageway for this third embodiment is depicted at 326, whichis an opening or channel along the driver 90, through the middle of theworking cylinder base. This air passageway 326 essentially extends thechannel 218 along the driver (through the piston stop 84). On theopposite portion of the air passageways, there are spaces around theprinted circuit board that includes the electronic controller 50; thesespaces are generally referred to herein by the reference numeral 332.

FIG. 8 also illustrates the air flow paths that are used by the thirdembodiment 300, which will now be discussed in detail. As discussedabove, it is the movements of the piston 80 that create an air flowbeneath that piston (i.e., to the left in this view of FIG. 8) such thatair in the variable venting volume 220 that is beneath the piston 80will be caused to be expelled from the interior portions of the tool 300during a driving stroke, as the piston moves from its ready positiontoward its driven position against the piston stop 84. The first airflow path to be affected is illustrated at 242, which shows the airbeneath the piston 80 being driven toward the piston stop.

The next air flow path runs through the middle of the piston stop, andis indicated at the reference numeral 240. The air continues to flow tothe next air flow path 346, which runs through the air passageway 326,and through the guide body and upper motor housing at 328. The movingair may now continue through some optional air flow paths 348 that leadto optional vents in the side wall of the motor housing 302, such asvents 362, 364, and 366. It should be noted that these optional airvents 362, 364, and 366 typically would only be used if the cooling airfrom the working cylinder 71 will not flow all the way to the electroniccontroller 50. On the other hand, if the tool's designer desires thecooling air from the working cylinder to flow all the way to theelectronic controller 50, then optional air vents 362, 364, and 366typically would not be used.

Assuming the cooling air flow is to continue to the electroniccontroller, then the air flow will continue to an air flow path 350 thatruns through the motor housing 302, while flowing around the motor 40and carrying heat from that motor. The next air flow path is at 352,which runs through the connector 304 between the bottom portions of themotor housing 302 and the handle 12. This moving air then continues toan air flow path at 354, in which the moving air runs against and aroundthe printed circuit board 50, and this event carries heat away from theprinted circuit board having the electronic controller 50.

The final air flow path is at 356, which flows through at least one vent370 in the lower handle housing, as seen on FIG. 8. There can bemultiple such vents 370, located at as many various positions around thehousing that essentially surrounds the electronic controller 50 asdesired by the tool's designer. Moreover, this could include ventslocated at the positions depicted on FIG. 4, for the vents 260.

In the design of the third embodiment 300, the major air flow that iscreated by the driving stroke of the piston 80 causes air to be forcedagainst and past the printed circuit board with the electronic circuitcontroller 50, thereby carrying heat away from that electronic device.That air flow first flows around the motor 40, thereby carrying heataway from that rather hot device as well. This major air flow finallyexits the tool's housing at vents near the electronic controller 50. Inthis manner, both the motor and the electronic components are cooled bythis single major air flow. In essence, the design of this thirdembodiment accomplishes the same cooling of those major components, butin reverse order of “outlet” air flow.

When the piston is lifted from its driven position back to its readyposition, the environmental air will then be sucked back in throughthose same vents 370, and will run through the same air flow paths inreverse order as just described above, to fill the variable ventingvolume 220 that is within the working cylinder 71 and below the piston80, as that piston moves from left to right in the view of FIG. 8. Itcan be seen that the movements of the piston, which must take placeunder all circumstances for this fastener driving tool 300 to produceany work at all, will now be used to provide a secondary benefit ofcooling the hot electronics and the hot motor, and this cooling effectis essentially “free” because this air has to be channeled somewherethroughout the tool housing, and then vented to the atmosphere. Asdescribed above, that movable volume of air not only is exited frombeneath the piston during a driving stroke, it is directed past themotor and the printed circuit board to cool those important devices andthen, when the piston is lifted back “up” during a lifting stroke to itsready position, the air from the environment is then directed againstand around the electronic circuit board and the motor once again,thereby producing a doubled cooling effect to create additional heattransfer away from those hot components.

Optionally, as an alternative design that was noted above, the major airflow illustrated in FIG. 8 could run from the variable venting volume220 past the motor, and then be vented at the motor housing, during adriving stroke of the piston 80. Then, during the return stroke, cooling(environmental) air would be sucked into through those same motorhousing vents, past the motor, and then into the variable venting volume220 below the piston 80. This would still achieve a doubled coolingeffect, but it would affect only the motor, and not the electroniccontroller.

Note that some of the embodiments illustrated herein do not have all oftheir components included on some of the figures herein, for purposes ofclarity. To see examples of such outer housings and other components,especially for earlier designs, the reader is directed to other U.S.patents and applications owned by Senco. Similarly, information about“how” the electronic controller operates to control the functions of thetool is found in other U.S. patents and applications owned by Senco.Moreover, other aspects of the present tool technology may have beenpresent in earlier fastener driving tools sold by the Assignee, KyoceraSenco Industrial Tools, Inc., including information disclosed inprevious U.S. patents and published applications. Examples of suchpublications are patent numbers U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,431,425; 5,927,585;5,918,788; 5,732,870; 4,986,164; 4,679,719; 8,011,547, 8,267,296,8,267,297, 8,011,441, 8,387,718, 8,286,722, 8,230,941, and 8,763,874;also published U.S. patent application No. 2016/0288305 and publishedU.S. patent application, No. 2018/0178361. These documents areincorporated by reference herein, in their entirety.

It will be understood that the electronic controller 50 includessufficient circuitry so as to be an intelligent device, including aprocessing circuit, a memory circuit that includes instructionsexecutable by said processing circuit, and an input/output (I/O)interface circuit that sends and receives signals to sense certain inputconditions of the tool, and to command certain active devices to performtheir intended functions. The associated drawings do not show theseelectronic circuits, but they are disclosed in some of the patentslisted above, and thus incorporated by reference. More specifically, theelectronic controller 50 is configured to send and receive signals: (a)to determine an operating state of the electric motor 40; (b) todetermine an operating state of a trigger switch and a safety contactswitch (not specifically illustrated in these drawings); (c) to causethe piston 80 to move from its ready position to its driven position,under first predetermined conditions; and (d) to actuate the motor tocause the lifter 100 to move the piston from the driven position to theready position, under second predetermined conditions.

The above “first predetermined conditions” include the actuation of thetrigger 54 by a human user, and the actuation of a safety contactelement that occurs when the human user presses the front end of thetool (at portion 18) against a target workpiece. The above “secondpredetermined conditions” occur when the piston has undergone a drivingstroke and has arrived at its driven position—which would be at thepiston stop 84. In a typical Senco FUSION tool, the electroniccontroller 50 will now automatically engage the motor 40 to turn thelifter 100 to move the piston back through a return stroke to its readyposition. These “second predetermined conditions” can also include asafety circuit to detect whether or not the motor 40 has entered into alocked rotor condition; if that event was detected, then the electroniccontroller 50 would probably stop its control signal to activate themotor 40, so that the motor would not overheat.

It will be further understood that any type of product described hereinthat has moving parts, or that performs functions (such as computerswith processing circuits and memory circuits), should be considered a“machine,” and not merely as some inanimate apparatus. Such “machine”devices should automatically include power tools, printers, electroniclocks, and the like, as those example devices each have certain movingparts. Moreover, a computerized device that performs useful functionsshould also be considered a machine, and such terminology is often usedto describe many such devices; for example, a solid-state telephoneanswering machine may have no moving parts, yet it is commonly called a“machine” because it performs well-known useful functions.

Additionally, it will be understood that a computing product thatincludes a display to show information to a human user, and that alsoincludes a “user operated input circuit” so the human user is able toenter commands or data, can be provided with a single device that isknown as a “touchscreen display.” In other words, if a patent claimrecites a “display” and a “user operated input circuit” as two separateelements, then a single touchscreen display, in actually, is exactly thesame thing. It should be noted that a touchscreen display usuallyincludes a virtual keypad, and therefore, a “user operated inputcircuit” typically comprises a virtual keypad, particularly on smartphones and on tablet computers. Moreover, in this situation, the word“virtual” means that it is not a hardware keypad; more specifically,“virtual” means that it is formed (i.e., “created”) on the displayscreen because of software being executed by a processing circuit.

As used herein, the phrase “physical electronic hardware circuit” refersto any type of electronic circuit in any physical form, including purelyelectrical or electronic components, and including suchelectrical/electronic components that are combined with other types ofdevices, such as magnetic components and optical components, and ofcourse, including interface components such as LEDs and photosensingdevices, like optocouplers that either receive or send “light” signalsthrough the air or through optical fibers. In general, a “physicalelectronic hardware circuit” will typically include some type ofprocessing circuit or other type of logic circuit that can be used tocontrol a tool or other device, and if a processing circuit includes atrue microprocessor or microcontroller, then there typically will be amemory circuit that is either built into the same IC chip (such as in amicrocontroller) or that is constructed as a separate IC chip, but thatcommunicates with the processing circuit.

As used herein, the term “proximal” can have a meaning of closelypositioning one physical object with a second physical object, such thatthe two objects are perhaps adjacent to one another, although it is notnecessarily required that there be no third object positionedtherebetween. In the technology disclosed herein, there may be instancesin which a “male locating structure” is to be positioned “proximal” to a“female locating structure.” In general, this could mean that the twomale and female structures are to be physically abutting one another, orthis could mean that they are “mated” to one another by way of aparticular size and shape that essentially keeps one structure orientedin a predetermined direction and at an X-Y (e.g., horizontal andvertical) position with respect to one another, regardless as to whetherthe two male and female structures actually touch one another along acontinuous surface. Or, two structures of any size and shape (whethermale, female, or otherwise in shape) may be located somewhat near oneanother, regardless if they physically abut one another or not; such arelationship could still be termed “proximal” Or, two or more possiblelocations for a particular point can be specified in relation to aprecise attribute of a physical object, such as being “near” or “at” theend of a stick; all of those possible near/at locations could be deemed“proximal” to the end of that stick. Moreover, the term “proximal” canalso have a meaning that relates strictly to a single object, in whichthe single object may have two ends, and the “distal end” is the endthat is positioned somewhat farther away from a subject point (or area)of reference, and the “proximal end” is the other end, which would bepositioned somewhat closer to that same subject point (or area) ofreference.

It will be understood that the various components that are describedand/or illustrated herein can be fabricated in various ways, includingin multiple parts or as a unitary part for each of these components,without departing from the principles of the technology disclosedherein. For example, a component that is included as a recited elementof a claim hereinbelow may be fabricated as a unitary part; or thatcomponent may be fabricated as a combined structure of severalindividual parts that are assembled together. But that “multi-partcomponent” will still fall within the scope of the claimed, recitedelement for infringement purposes of claim interpretation, even if itappears that the claimed, recited element is described and illustratedherein only as a unitary structure.

All documents cited in the Background and in the Detailed Descriptionare, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation ofany document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior artwith respect to the technology disclosed herein.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the technology disclosed herein to the preciseform disclosed, and the technology disclosed herein may be furthermodified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Any examplesdescribed or illustrated herein are intended as non-limiting examples,and many modifications or variations of the examples, or of thepreferred embodiment(s), are possible in light of the above teachings,without departing from the spirit and scope of the technology disclosedherein. The embodiment(s) was chosen and described in order toillustrate the principles of the technology disclosed herein and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto utilize the technology disclosed herein in various embodiments andwith various modifications as are suited to particular usescontemplated. This application is therefore intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the technology disclosed hereinusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this technology disclosedherein pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a cylinderthat includes a movable piston, said cylinder including a variabledisplacement volume on a first side of said piston, and said cylinderincluding a variable venting volume on a second, opposite side of saidpiston; a driver that is in mechanical communication with said piston; aguide body that guides said driver, and that receives a fastener to bedriven by said driver to an exit portion of the guide body; a lifterthat is configured to move said driver from a driven position to a readyposition; an electronic controller that includes at least one physicalelectronic hardware circuit; a housing that covers at least a portion ofsaid cylinder and said guide body, and that covers at least a portion ofsaid at least one physical electronic hardware circuit of the electroniccontroller; and an air passageway that extends at least between saidvariable venting volume and said at least one physical electronichardware circuit of the electronic controller, and further extends to atleast one vent in said housing to thereby provide a pneumaticcommunication with an outer environment.
 2. The fastener driving tool ofclaim 1, wherein: said at least one vent is proximal to said at leastone physical electronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller.3. The fastener driving tool of claim 1, further comprising: (a) anelectric motor that is configured to move said lifter; and (b) a motorhousing that extends from a portion of said housing, and includes saidelectric motor.
 4. The fastener driving tool of claim 3, wherein: saidat least one vent is proximal to said electric motor, and said airpassageway further extends between said electric motor and said at leastone physical electronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller.5. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a cylinder that includes amovable piston, said cylinder including a variable displacement volumeon a first side of said piston, and said cylinder including a variableventing volume on a second, opposite side of said piston; a driver thatis in mechanical communication with said piston; a guide body thatguides said driver, and that receives a fastener to be driven by saiddriver to an exit portion of the guide body; a lifter that is configuredto move said driver from a driven position to a ready position; ahousing that covers at least a portion of said cylinder and said guidebody; a motor housing that extends from a portion of said housing, andincludes an electric motor that is configured to move said lifter; andan air passageway that extends at least between said variable ventingvolume and said electric motor, and further extends to at least one ventin said housing to thereby provide a pneumatic communication with anouter environment.
 6. The fastener driving tool of claim 5, wherein:said at least one vent is proximal to said electric motor.
 7. Thefastener driving tool of claim 5, further comprising: an electroniccontroller that includes at least one physical electronic hardwarecircuit, wherein said housing covers at least a portion of said at leastone physical electronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller.8. The fastener driving tool of claim 7, wherein: said at least one ventis proximal to said at least one physical electronic hardware circuit ofthe electronic controller, and said air passageway further extendsbetween said electric motor and said at least one physical electronichardware circuit of the electronic controller.
 9. A fastener drivingtool, comprising: a main storage chamber that contains a pressurizedgas; a cylinder that includes a movable piston, said cylinder includinga variable displacement volume on a first side of said piston that is inpneumatic communication with said main storage chamber, and saidcylinder including a variable venting volume on a second, opposite sideof said piston that is in pneumatic communication with an outerenvironment; a piston stop that is positioned on said second side ofsaid movable piston, said piston stop exhibiting a through opening; adriver that is in mechanical communication with said piston; a guidebody that guides said driver, and that receives a fastener to be drivenby said driver to an exit portion of the guide body; a lifter that isconfigured to move said driver to move from a driven position to a readyposition; an electronic controller that includes a processing circuit, amemory circuit, and an input/output interface circuit, said controllerincluding at least one physical electronic hardware circuit; a mainhousing that covers at least a portion of said main storage chamber,said cylinder, and said guide body; a handle portion that extends from afirst portion of said main housing, said handle portion including anenclosure that covers at least a portion of said at least one physicalelectronic hardware circuit of the electronic controller; at least onevent in said enclosure of the handle portion that is proximal to said atleast one physical electronic hardware circuit of the electroniccontroller; a first air passageway that extends from said throughopening of the piston stop to said enclosure of the handle portion; anda second air passageway that extends through said enclosure of thehandle portion, between said first air passageway and said at least onevent in the handle portion.
 10. The fastener driving tool of claim 9,wherein: (a) a reciprocating motion of said movable piston causes air tomove through said variable venting volume, said through opening in thepiston stop, said first air passageway, said second air passageway, andsaid at least one vent in the handle portion; and (b) said moving airpasses around and cools said at least one physical electronic hardwarecircuit of the electronic controller.
 11. The fastener driving tool ofclaim 10, wherein: said air that moves through the variable ventingvolume and passes around and cools said at least one physical electronichardware circuit of the electronic controller (a) moves in a firstdirection when said piston moves from its ready position toward itsdriven position; and (b) moves in a second, substantially oppositedirection when said piston moves from its driven position toward itsready position; thereby achieving a heat transfer effect twice during asingle operational cycle of reciprocating piston movement.
 12. Thefastener driving tool of claim 9, wherein: the pressurized gas isre-used, and is not vented to atmosphere.
 13. The fastener driving toolof claim 9, wherein: said driver extends into said through opening insaid piston stop.
 14. The fastener driving tool of claim 9, wherein: thehandle portion enclosure that covers said at least a portion of said atleast one physical electronic hardware circuit of the electroniccontroller is part of said main housing.
 15. The fastener driving toolof claim 9, further comprising a battery pack that provides electricalpower for said electronic controller.
 16. The fastener driving tool ofclaim 9, further comprising: (a) an electric motor that is configured tomove said lifter; and (b) a motor housing that extends from a secondportion of said main housing, and includes said electric motor.
 17. Thefastener driving tool of claim 16, wherein: said electronic controlleris configured to send and receive signals to: (a) determine an operatingstate of said electric motor; (b) determine an operating state of atrigger switch and a safety contact switch; (c) cause said piston tomove from said ready position to said driven position, under firstpredetermined conditions; and (d) actuate said motor to cause saidlifter to move said piston from said driven position to said readyposition, under second predetermined conditions.
 18. The fastenerdriving tool of claim 16, further comprising: (a) a fan that is proximalto said electric motor; (b) at least one vent in said motor housing. 19.The fastener driving tool of claim 18, wherein said fan circulates airwithin said motor housing and through said at least one vent in themotor housing, thereby creating an air exchange and cooling said motor.20. A fastener driving tool, comprising: a main storage chamber thatcontains a pressurized gas; a cylinder that includes a movable piston,said cylinder including a variable displacement volume on a first sideof said piston that is in pneumatic communication with said main storagechamber, and said cylinder including a variable venting volume on asecond, opposite side of said piston that is in pneumatic communicationwith an outer environment; a piston stop that is positioned on saidsecond side of said movable piston, said piston stop exhibiting athrough opening; a driver that is in mechanical communication with saidpiston; a guide body that guides said driver, and that receives afastener to be driven by said driver to an exit portion of the guidebody; a lifter that is configured to move said driver to move from adriven position to a ready position; an electronic controller thatincludes a processing circuit, a memory circuit, and an input/outputinterface circuit, said controller including at least one physicalelectronic hardware circuit; a main housing that covers at least aportion of said main storage chamber, said cylinder, and said guidebody; a handle portion that extends from a first portion of said mainhousing, said handle portion including an enclosure that covers at leasta portion of said at least one physical electronic hardware circuit ofthe electronic controller; an electronic motor that is configured tomove said lifter; a motor housing that extends from a second portion ofsaid main housing, and includes said electric motor; at least one ventin said motor housing; a first air passageway that extends from saidthrough opening of the piston stop to said enclosure of the handleportion; and a second air passageway that extends through said enclosureof the handle portion, between said first air passageway and the bottomof said motor housing.
 21. The fastener driving tool of claim 20,wherein: (a) a reciprocating motion of said movable piston causes air tomove through said variable venting volume, said through opening in thepiston stop, said first air passageway, said second air passageway, andsaid at least one vent in said motor housing; and (b) said moving airpasses around and cools said at least one physical electronic hardwarecircuit of the electronic controller, and cools said electric motor. 22.The fastener driving tool of claim 20, wherein: the pressurized gas isre-used, and is not vented to atmosphere.
 23. The fastener driving toolof claim 20, wherein: said driver extends into said through opening insaid piston stop.
 24. The fastener driving tool of claim 20, wherein:the handle portion enclosure that covers said at least a portion of saidat least one physical electronic hardware circuit of the electroniccontroller is part of said main housing.
 25. The fastener driving toolof claim 20, further comprising a battery pack that provides electricalpower for said electronic controller.
 26. The fastener driving tool ofclaim 20, wherein: said electronic controller is configured to send andreceive signals to: (a) determine an operating state of said electricmotor; (b) determine an operating state of a trigger switch and a safetycontact switch; (c) cause said piston to move from said ready positionto said driven position, under first predetermined conditions; and (d)actuate said motor to cause said lifter to move said piston from saiddriven position to said ready position, under second predeterminedconditions.